LEWISTON — E. Dale Merrill of East Oxford Road in South Paris, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 15, at Central Maine Medical Center after a short illness.

He was born at Stephens Memorial Hospital in Norway, Dec. 5, 1947, to Lawrence Merrill Sr. and Florence DeCharme Merrill. He attended local schools and worked at Maine Machine Products for 30 years. He married Helen Fayta on July 28, 2001.

His passion in life was raising Durham cattle and showing them at the fairs. He enjoyed driving his Jeep with his wife, Helen, and he totally enjoyed the Christmas holidays, spending time with family and friends most of all. He loved his children and grandchildren dearly and would do anything he could for them.

He volunteered his time for the Waterford Fair Association and with the help of generous donations from local businesses and help from friends in the community he was able to raise a new show steer and oxen barn. He ran the steer and oxen show at Waterford Fair for the last two years. He truly loved helping with whatever he could for the fair.

He is survived by his best friend and loving wife, Helen; his son, Robert Merrill; his daughters, Lori Gallan and her husband, Mike, Suzanne Merrill and her partner, Dan and Jody Merrill; his brother, Larry Merrill and his wife, Pat; a nephew, Larry; six grandchildren, Felicia Merrill, Casey Cosser, Mikayla Merrill, Olivia, Miah and Michael Gallan; two great-grandchildren, Angel and Hayley; two stepchildren, Jason Fayta and his fiancée, Leiah and Kimberly Martin and her husband, Sean; three stepgrandchildren, Breton, Loren and Maren Pinkham; and many close friends and relatives.

Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.chandlerfunerals.com.